228 A COURSE ON ZOOLOGY. 



The musk-rat, or more properly musquash, is a large 

 rodent, its head and body measuring about fifteen inches, 

 and its tail ten inches. It is very aquatic, rarely being 

 found far away from the banks of the stream or pond 

 near which it lives. It burrows under the banks, the 

 entrance to its hole being under water. Its food is 

 principally vegetable. Its dark-brown, downy fur is 

 rather short, but mixed with longer and stiffer hairs, 

 and is in considerable demand. 



The chinchilla is best known by its soft gray fur. It 

 inhabits high altitudes in Chili and Peru. Its body is 

 about a foot long, and it somewhat resembles a squirrel, 

 but its hind legs are longer. 



FIG. 157. 



CAPYBARA (Hydrochoerus capybara). 



The capybara is the largest rodent, being as large as 

 a small pig, and much resembling in form the guinea- 

 pig. It is aquatic in its habits and vegetarian in diet. 

 It has thin, coarse, and brownish hair. It is found in 

 Northern South America, where it is known as the 

 water-hog. 



